Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of electricity consumed by pumping operations and the amount of electricity generated by the electricity storage plant at Turlough Hill, County Wicklow; the utilisation capacity factor of that plant for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37878/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The operation of ESB stations is a day-to-day matter for the company and not one in which I have a function.

Prior to the introduction of the Single Electricity Market (SEM) on 1 November 2007, information relating to the operation of generating stations was subject to confidentiality agreements between generating companies and EirGrid as the Transmission System Operator.

Following the introduction of the SEM, data in relation to the operation of Turlough Hill and all other market participants, is available on a half hourly basis on the SEM Operator's (SEMO) website, www.allislandmarket.com. The SEM Operator is a joint venture between EirGrid and the Systems Operator Northern Ireland. EirGrid also publishes a monthly report on the availability performance of each generation unit on the power system. I have asked my officials to liaise with EirGrid to ascertain how best the information needs of the Deputy can be addressed.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of the economic climate and recent rises in energy costs to the consumer and the risk of fuel poverty in winter 2008-2009, he will write to the Commission for Energy Regulation, Sustainable Energy Ireland and Eirgrid and to the boards and chief executives of the State owned companies which generate electricity asking them to do everything in their power to support and facilitate the introduction, development and deployment of technologies in the power generating industry that will reduce their unit power costs and in turn, reduce the price of electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37879/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Encouraging a competitive, least cost energy supply is a key policy objective for the Government. Substantial improvements in the energy efficiency of the electricity sector have taken place since 1990 with the addition of more efficient plant and improvements in infrastructure. There is scope however, for further enhancement. The forthcoming National Energy Efficiency Action Plan will contain a number of measures to underpin ongoing enhancement of efficiency in the power generation sector.

It is also the case that the prevailing market structures of the Single Electricity Market incentivise the adoption by power generators of any innovation or development that lowers the unit cost of electricity. Generators with lower costs per unit of electricity produced are, by definition, more efficient than other generators and hence would be selected by the Single Electricity Market Operator to produce electricity more often than less efficient generators with higher costs. The market structure essentially ensures that generators will receive an economic return for investment in new and more cost efficient generation technologies.

I am facilitating the deployment of Smart Meter technology, through a pilot programme and subsequent national rollout. Smart Meters will significantly enhance management of energy demand and enable greater energy efficiency by energy suppliers. They will also empower individual consumers to lower their own energy bills by reducing and managing their energy usage.

The Energy Policy framework includes a range of other measures which will improve the price competitiveness of our energy supply by encouraging greater efficiency and competition across the energy sector.

My Department is in regular correspondence and have frequent meeting with the various State bodies involved in the energy sector to see how our energy policy objectives can be met.